Kolkata: The count of ozone in Central Kolkata is 60 percent more than a safe level, increasing concerns about public health and the threats it to the iconic Vicria Memorial.
On average eight hours are 160 mg / cubic meters in the Victoria Memorial area on Sunday, in accordance with the West Bengal Bengal Pollution (WBPCB).
On average eight ozone hours should not exceed 100 mg / cubic meters, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The high ozone level is the result of a distinctive cemerlicity and the accumulation of vehicle emission particles in the lower atmosphere, a WBPCB official said.
After foggy conditions increase, the amount of ozone will go down, he said.
The Sudenthranath neighborhood Ghosh said the right monitoring was needed to find the reason behind the surge in ozone levels in the eco-sensitive zone of the city, often referred to as ‘kolkata lungs’ because of hectares of meadows.
It is worried about the number of ozone and even exceeded the PM2.5 144 level on Sunday afternoon, he said.
“So many old diesel vehicles plying.
Because of this pollution, the white marbles of Victoria Memorial can turn yellow and the plaster will go on a lot of room walls in the future,” he warned.
Soil surface ozone is a colorless and very annoying gas formed right above the earth’s surface, said Ghosh.
This is a secondary pollutant as produced when two primary pollutants – nitrogen oxide (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) – react in the sun and air stagnant, he said.
Ozone can cause the muscles in the airways narrowing, trapping air in the alveoli, which causes wheezing and shortness of breath.
“Depending on the level of exposure, ozone can cause coughing and sore throat or itching,” WBPCB official said.